Clans living near Kosi Bay have used an ancient fish trapping system to create a livelihood for themselves and their families for centuries. But as population pressure rises, increasing the twin stressors of poverty and unemployment, how long will the fragile balance between humans and nature provide a bountiful catch? Mandy de Waal travelled to uMhlabuyalingana for GroundUp. Jon Pienaar took the photographs.
Mandy de Waal and Jon Pienaar
Feature | 31 July 2014
Gilad Isaacs makes valid criticisms of Mike Schussler’s arguments on inequality, but he makes a number of mistakes of his own, writes Jeremy Seekings.
Jeremy Seekings
Opinion | 30 July 2014
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini announced plans in June to expand child support grant eligibility from age 18 to 23.
Michelle Korte
News | 25 July 2014
“Making Life Easier For You” is Ellerines’ promise to customers. But the high-profile furniture outlet has made life anything but easy for Patricia Qwase.
Michelle Korte
News | 24 July 2014
Popular economist Mike Schussler’s recently published article distorts the available statistical evidence to buttress a bizarre argument.
Gilad Isaacs
Opinion | 22 July 2014
The Seriti Commission's approach is undermining the public's right to know, explains Kholiswa Tyiki, a journalist and researcher with Right2Know.
Kholiswa Tyiki
Opinion | 18 July 2014
Recent articles in GroundUp by Gilad Isaacs on the conclusions to be drawn from the long platinum strike have prompted a vigorous debate about the nature of inequality in South Africa. Here economist Mike Schussler argues that demands for higher wages will lead to more inequality, not less.
Mike Schussler
Opinion | 15 July 2014
“The misery of people here is very great, with beggars innumerable and increasing every day....pigs and calves live better than they.” That rhyming comment could apply to the legions of the poor in many parts of the world today. And South Africa is no exception.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 14 July 2014
Activist-cum-political contender Mametlwe Sebei says news editors are actively excluding socialist issues from the public discourse. Jane Duncan of Rhodes says editors squash or are threatened by socialist ideas. Mandy de Waal looked into their claims.
Mandy de Waal
Analysis | 10 July 2014
A 38-year-old fruit vendor in the city centre says it is not clear if he will be benefiting from the City of Cape Town’s proposed plan to allocate new trading bays.
Barbara Maregele
News | 2 July 2014
The timing, duration and intensity of the long strike on the platinum belt were fuelled by a familiar South African problem: persistent and very high inequality.
Gilad Isaacs
Opinion | 1 July 2014
Gilad Isaacs underestimates the scale of AMCU's victory. His analysis offers an indicator of winner/loser based on contrasting the final settlement with the initial demand and initial offer. But this is arbitrary.
Peter Alexander
Opinion | 30 June 2014
The South African economy is facing a rocky period. But don’t blame the platinum strike or the union or workers involved. That labour dispute was a symptom, not the cause, of problems that had developed outside of the control of the workers.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 30 June 2014
Last week, GroundUp witnessed law enforcement officers confiscating the fruit of two street vendors on the corners of Belmont and Main Road, Rondebosch. They are among thousands of informal vendors breaking city bylaws to sell their goods at traffic lights and intersections across the City in order to make their daily living.
Barbara Maregele and Adam Armstrong
News | 26 June 2014
Over 50 protesters huddled behind barricades outside parliament on 17 June before President Jacob Zuma arrived to deliver the State of the Nation address that opened South Africa’s fifth parliament.
Lara Sokoloff
News | 18 June 2014
More than 8.5 million people are receiving payments from the Unemployment Insurance Fund. If a bill before parliament’s labour committee is passed, benefits could be extended to a year.
GroundUp Staff
News | 17 June 2014